Young Durham performers win Eurovision-inspired music video competition
Youngsters at a performing arts academy in Durham were crowned national winners of a Eurovision-inspired challenge earlier this month.
Students at Durham’s branch of the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts (PQA) won PQA's Eurovision Challenge, taking the top prize with their music video based on Sam Ryder's 2022 Eurovision entry Spaceman.
The annual Eurovision Challenge invites academies across the country to create a music video using any Eurovision song from the past ten years.
Judges were looking for strong group choreography and compelling storytelling, all captured in a single continuous take.
PQA Durham's academy rose to the challenge, impressing the judges with their creative vision and powerful group performance, beating hundreds of other students from across the country.
Michael Fenwick, principal of the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts in Durham, said: “Our students worked incredibly hard to produce the music video and had so much fun as Eurovision fever took over the academy for the day.
"I would like to congratulate our students on their energy and enthusiasm for the Eurovision competition.
"Brilliant work by everyone involved – the result is well deserved.”
One of the performers, 13-year-old William Benjamin, said: “To be chosen to make a music video for the Eurovision competition within PQA was a fantastic opportunity.
"I am elated to be on the winning team and super proud of everyone.
"This is truly a dream come true.”
The Eurovision Challenge forms part of PQA's broader commitment to giving young people meaningful, real-world creative briefs that develop performance, filmmaking and collaborative skills.